I Squared Capital

When it comes to ensuring adequate funding for our infrastructure needs, the answer is “all of the above.” Writing for The Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Mark Kennedy, Jeff Kucik and Lionel C. Johnson examine the options available to ensure we raise enough capital to meet the demands for infrastructure investment. https://lnkd.in/eCpW-ZsZ

There are lessons to be learned from the failures of Thames Water, when it comes to public/private partnerships. Privatization unlocks funding that is otherwise unavailable offering a pathway to necessary upgrades and investments. But it also requires a true partnership with the public sector to ensure the right safeguards are in place to protect against incompetence or maleficence. In my upcoming book, Build: Investing in America’s Infrastructure (Georgetown University Press, 2024), I examine in detail the UK move toward water privatization including the problems caused by two (of 10) water providers, Ofwat’s role as a regulator, the overall success of privatization in terms of water safety, and what we can learn in the US. https://lnkd.in/eksr3fxR

There are lessons to be learned from the failures of Thames Water, when it comes to public/private partnerships. Privatization unlocks funding that is otherwise unavailable offering a pathway to necessary upgrades and investments. But it also requires a true partnership with the public sector to ensure the right safeguards are in place to protect against incompetence or maleficence. In my upcoming book, Build: Investing in America’s Infrastructure (Georgetown University Press, 2024), I examine in detail the UK move toward water privatization including the problems caused by two (of 10) water providers, Ofwat’s role as a regulator, the overall success of privatization in terms of water safety, and what we can learn in the US. https://lnkd.in/eksr3fxR

I Squared is and always has been an advocate for transformative approaches to infrastructure investment to promote sustainable economic growth. Nowhere is the need greater and, as an investor, the opportunity more interesting and appealing than in Asia Pacific. Coming on the back of a busy period in the region (see here: https://lnkd.in/gPPV6jjp), Harsh Agrawal, I Squared's Senior Partner, APAC, spoke with Infrastructure Investor about some of the firm's recent investments in the region and the power of the global I Squared portfolio company network.

Sadek Wahba, our Chairman and Managing Partner, was in #Singapore last week, where he participated in two separate conferences. The Infrastructure Asia Forum (AIF) and the inaugural Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum.  These are two incredibly important forums for I Squared, they shine a light on and encourage investment in the #infrastructure needs of the #Asian #Pacific region while bringing together the key voices in US and Asia investing.    The AIF is Infrastructure Asia’s flagship event, co-organised (impeccably, as always) with Enterprise Singapore, Ministry of Finance (Singapore) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Sadek participated in a panel on #sustainable #financing alongside H.E. Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh Sylvi J. Gani, Luca Tonello and ably moderated by Isabel Chatterton. Later in the same week, the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum convened a diverse set of stakeholders from across the United States and the Indo-Pacific region to gain market insights, make industry and government contacts, solidify business strategies, and identify funding opportunities.  Sadek again participated in a conversation on "Developing Clean Energy Opportuniteis and Supply Chains in the IPEF Region" alongside Don Farrell, Minsiter for Trade and Tourism, Australia, Richard Folsom, Co-Founder and representative Partner, Advantage Partners, and Dato Dr Amin Abdullah, CFA, Minister for Finance and Economy, Brunei. As a reminder, I Squared Capital is committing $1.5 billion towards energy transition, climate investment, and digital inclusion projects in IPEF emerging economies, including green data centers in Indonesia, a renewables platform in the #Philippines, as well as advanced smart meters and hybrid renewables in #India. This investment includes up to $650 million of equity capital from the #Climate #Fund that I Squared announced last year with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. For more information on IPEF and its importance to US stability and security, watch this conversation between Sadek and Secretary Gina Raimondo from an event last year at the Wilson center: https://lnkd.in/eK8UrDKN Commenting on the events last week, Sadek Wahba, Chairman & Managing Partner, I Squared Capital, said: "Public-private partnerships are critical vehicles for private capital to support necessary infrastructure projects and seek to protect developing economies from the impact of climate change. I Squared would like to thank the Singaporean business community for hosting the IPEF event this week and we look forward to deepening our partnership with all the key players in the region through more thoughtful and productive meetings like the ones we have just completed.” 

Congrats to all Arriva Group - we couldn't be more excited to be with you on this next chapter of your story.

Harsh Agrawal, I Squared Capital Senior Partner for APAC is featured in The Straits Times. He shares his views on where and why Japanese investors are looking for infrastructure investment opportunities - in the region and beyond. His commentary comes fresh on the heels of the investment announced in April by a consortium of Japanese investors in to I Squared Capital’s natural gas platform in India (THINK Gas). Harsh notes the fresh injection of funds will be used to invest in India gas infrastructure to expand the last-mile city distribution network. However, he adds, the Indian market will also benefit from Osaka Gas’ operating expertise and some best practices, and there is also scope to cooperate on the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. The Indian gas project is the second collaboration between I Squared Capital and Japanese investors. A consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation and East Nippon Expressway Company Limited (Nexco East), an operator of expressways and toll roads in Japan, invested in Cube Highways, I Squared's toll road and highways business in India, in 2017. "South-east Asia and South Asia are growing. They can take their operating expertise to the region and ride on the growth in these markets," Mr Agrawal said.

Congratulations to Sadek Wahba, I Squared’s Chairman and Managing Partner on his new book, “Build: Investing in America’s Infrastructure” - a great read with great insights and smart ideas from one of the leading lights in global infrastructure investing. #newbook #booklaunch #infrastrcture #investing #America #policy #buildbysadekwahba

Harsh Agrawal, Senior Partner and Head of Asia for I Squared spoke to Reuters about our ambitions in the region and some of our recent successes... The firm's expansion in Asia Pacific underscores growing investor interest in infrastructure assets across the region as it rapidly urbanises, its energy demand grows and its population becomes increasingly affluent and digitised. "As we look at the next three, four years, we see this market as having very good characteristics, high growth, a lot of consumption growth driven by consumers in emerging Asia, expansion of the middle class," Agrawal told Reuters at I Squared's Singapore office. https://lnkd.in/ewxdQwa5 #infrastructure #investing #asia #urbanization #expansion #renewables #energy